Submitted by Marilyn Cugnet
The Knibbs, Cugnet and Brown families recently located the remains of “Sailor Wes”, so he could be buried and remembered with honor. He died in the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which launched the U.S. into the Second World War.
Wesley James Brown was born March 1, 1916 in Eureka, Montana. His parents were Randolph and Bessie (White) Brown. They came to Innes, Sask. in 1916 with their three children Radie, Fern and Wesley. They resided on the family farm that Bessie’s father Thomas White established, two and half miles from Innes. While living on the farm, they had two more children, Max and Ida.
Wesley went to school at Dunreath near Innes. He was liked and had friends in the community. He worked on the farm with his brothers and dad. In 1937, he went Iowa making his home with his mother, Bessie and Ida, his sisters. He worked with his cousin Marven Dawson on the farm.
On August 22, 1939, he joined the American Navy and he became a First Class Fireman on the ship USS Oklahoma.
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked the ships in Pearl Harbor, Honolulu and the USS Oklahoma went down. The ship was moored at Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, and it sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize.
The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crew members, including Wesley.
When he was in the Navy he never forgot his family and his friends, as he would always send letters and cards to them. Some of the letters are still with the family at this time. He would sign them “Sailor Wes”.
He was awarded the Purple Heart for his bravery and the medal is still treasured in the family.
Eighty years later, with the help of family members who donated their DNA, it was possible to have Wesley accounted for on December 22, 2020. The family received the good (and sad) news on January 27, 2021 from the Defense Accounting Agency. He will be buried with his mother, Bessie at Smithland, Iowa. An American Military service will be held later.
He leaves his family who are deceased, his father Randolph; his mother Bessie; his brother Radie and Irene; his sister Fern and Art Knibbs; his brother Max, who was in the Canadian Army and was killed in Neil, Germany on February 9, 1945 and is buried in Griosbeek, Holland; and his sister, Ida and Loren Bainbridge. Randolph, his father, is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Weyburn. Bessie married Tom Lessley of Oto, Iowa in her later years.
Nieces and nephews in Canada and the United States did not know Uncle Wesley personally, but he has always been in the hearts of his family. The family is very proud and grateful that he is home. May he rest in peace.
